I have always been a fan of short stories. I know a few Chicago area authors — Patricia Ann McNair and Dan Burns come to mind — who have recently published collections. And I used to buy scifi collections as soon as they came out.
I love getting “the whole story” in a small package. I love the challenge of  picking the right few words to convey meaning, emotion, character.

It’s nice to see Annie R. Allen thinks the time for short stories has returned.  Here are her reasons, several of which are their potential advantages to authors.
One reason: May, she says, is Short Story Writing Month. Give it a try.

The New Golden Age of Short Fiction: 12 Reasons to Write a Short Story This Month

http://annerallen.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-new-golden-age-of-short-fiction-12.html?m=1

How many of these award nominees have you read?

Locus Online News » 2014 Locus Awards Finalists

http://www.locusmag.com/News/2014/05/2014-locus-awards-finalists/

My favorite image of my mom is seeing her sitting in a chair in the corner of the living room, engrossed in the latest Book of the Month Club selection. She certainly influenced my idea of a good time. I don’t necessarily read the same books she did — I think her favorite was Gone With The Wind, which I’ve never gotten through — but I still love to curl up with a book.

Here’s a short list of some other mothers’ favorite books.

Mother-Approved Reads | Book Reviews & Recommendations | Bookish.com

http://www.bookish.com/articles/mother-approved-reads